Own Hands Story Search Update

If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.[*] That's why I'm very happy to announce a new collaborator on our advanced search tool for fiction, my amazing friend, Elaine, who brings decades of experience in IT to laying the foundations of this search tool. Many thanks to Elaine for helping us to develop a sound architecture... in her spare time for no pay. It's slow going, but each step is careful and sure. Our longer range plan is to apply for grants once we have a proof of concept. That's still a ways out, but we'll get there. We continue to be committed to using open source code and developing this tool as a digital commons project.

[*]At the risk of possibly belying that sentiment, I'm not going to post my whole author newsletter here, just that Own Hands update. Anyone who would like to sign up for my infrequent newsletter can do so here. You can unsubscribe at any time.

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You can view my nice HTML newsletter here or read the text below...

Forward!

I see a silver lining to the United State's current situation: it's grave enough to inspire change. If the USDA is too understaffed to ensure food safety, maybe it's time to pivot to CSA's, farmer's markets, and gardening ahead of supply chain breakdown due to climate change. If the ACA is on the chopping block, maybe switch to a direct primary care provider and/or CostPlusDrugs. Frightened by Amazon's, Facebook's, and X's swings to the right? It's a great time to buy from Bookshop.org and local stores and check out BlueSky or Diaspora. Disclaimer: None of these options, especially the healthcare ones, are flawless; proceed at your own risk. With that disclaimer ringing in your ears, yes, it's a frightening time and risky as heck, but it's also an invitation to seek out new harmonies.

OwnHands Fiction Search Update: It's Not Quite Dead...

It feels much better. Monty Python jokes aside, Glenn and I just met to discuss our progress so far. He's facing a challenge in trying to build this project with open source tools. Because this will be a digital commons, but it's longer and harder. For that reason, we're fishing for others with programming experience to come on board and help us out, especially with back-end work. If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to me. It's a labor of love for now, but once we have a proof of concept, we'll be applying for grants.

Whatever Happened to Being Cut?

Life is ironic. After talking up my book on relationship cutoff, I've decided not to release it widely. Too many people have misinterpreted me as saying that it’s fine to ignore boundaries. That’s not what I said. Yet this misreading raises the possibility that some might use my book as an excuse to harm others. I don’t want to be responsible for that.

I have also had favorable responses, some "every therapist should read this" types of response, and I believe this book can help some people in some circumstances. I will, therefore, continue to offer it on a limited basis (e-formats free) to some people I interact with personally. If you are interested in learning more or receiving a copy, please contact me.

labingi

Election Reflections

Like everyone on the left, I'm scared for our future. I'm also hopeful. In the face of the fear and polarization, there's an undercurrent of mutual care I don't remember seeing in 2016 or 2020. There's a sense that the left needs to do some soul searching. In this moment, I personally think our most important task is listening. Our most important stance is compassion, remembering the humanity of each person.

Book Launch for Being Cut

Sunday, January 26, at 11:30 a.m.

Kairos-Milwaukie United Church of Christ
4790 SE Logus Road, Milwaukie OR 97222.

Join me January 26 for a brief reading from Being Cut: A Rumination on Relationship Cutoff and open discussion of why cutoff happens, how cutoff feels, and how we can to heal from it or limit its harm. (No pressure to attend the church service before the event.)

I didn't write this book with this election in mind, but I think the book may be timely. At its most basic, it's about listening and connection, things we need now more than ever.

Own Hands Story Search Update

Glenn and I have been slammed by the day jobs, which has slowed our progress on our story search tool (and these newsletters). But as I write this, he coding away on website setup. I'll keep you posted!

Current Mood: accomplished

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Own Hands Story Search Is For You

Welcome to Arwen’s revamped newsletter! I’m going to prioritize news and offers for the Own Hands Story Search tool, an advanced search tool for fiction, as well as featuring general author news and SF&F-related stuff.

Thanks to everyone who filled out the opening questionnaire for Own Hands Story Search! Reading the responses has been fascinating. Some key wishes:

* WELL-WRITTEN female characters
* small press/indie author representation
* more granular search options
* option to include or exclude tags
* multiple responses asking for warnings for animal cruelty (which I rarely see warned for)

I’m now sketching out search categories based on the questionnaire and prior research. I’m at twenty-two (22) different relationship categories—and that’s with a lot of simplification! Stay tuned for further invitations to help build/test this tool.

Author News:

The Kafka Protocol Cover: Black and white wall of blurred windows with white wording superimosed: The Kafka Protocol, with contributing authors

I’m proud and grateful to have a short story in JayHenge Publishing’s The Kafka Protocol, an anthology of suitably Kafka-esque situations, where Surrealism and Bureaucracy spawn a child called Horror. My story, “Leech,” plays on the economic black hole that is choosing a teaching career in the humanities.

Streaming Recommendation:

In case you missed it due to poor marketing (as I did), I highly recommend AMC’s Interview with the Vampire, season 2. As a die-hard fan of the Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, I have my discontents with some of this show’s adaptive choices, but I join almost everyone in recognizing it’s a very well-written and well-acted show.

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Own Hands Story Search

Entries tagged with digital commons

Summer Update

Newsletter for, um, March?

Forward!

OwnHands Fiction Search Update: It's Not Quite Dead...

Whatever Happened to Being Cut?

Election Reflections & Book Launch

Election Reflections

Book Launch for Being Cut

Own Hands Story Search Update

August 2024 News

Profile

December 2025

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